This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.

Diarrhea is a common problem for our canine companions. Many cases of diarrhea are not serious and will resolve given the correct home care. By taking the right action you can help straightforward, uncomplicated episodes of diarrhea settle down without a trip to the vet clinic. Still, sometimes the problem is serious enough to require a trip to the vet.

Put the dog on a 12 to 24-hour fast. The presence of food in the gut causes contractions of the bowel wall to push food along. But if the dog has diarrhea, these contractions can be over-enthusiastic and push food through too quickly in the form of diarrhea. The answer is to withhold food for 12 - 24 hours to let the over-sensitized bowel wall calm down and act normally.

Provide fresh drinking water.[1]XResearch source<i>Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine. Ettinger. Publisher: Saunders</i> During this period of fasting, let the dog have access to clean, fresh drinking water. Monitor the water bowl to make sure it is going down (ie he is drinking). If he is drinking well, then the risk of dehydration is drastically reduced.

Try a prescription diet from the vet. If you know that your dog doesn't respond well to the bland, home-prepared meal, ask your veterinarian for prescription dog food for healing stomachs. Diets such as Hills ID and Purina EN are proven to speed up the recovery time from diarrhea.

Ration his portion sizes.[2]XResearch source<i>Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine. Ettinger. Publisher: Saunders</i> Smaller meals give the bowel less stimulation to go into spasm. When your dog ends his fast, feed him the same amount of food in a day as his normal diet. However, divide it into four smaller portions and spread the meals throughout the day. This will prevent his diarrhea from returning.

Transition your dog slowly back to a regular diet. Once your dog's diarrhea has safely passed, you can begin easing him back into a normal diet. Don't switch him straight back onto his normal food, as the bowel needs time to heal. Stick to the bland diet for two days to make sure the diarrhea has passed. Then take a further 2 days to transition him back onto normal food using the following method:

Administer probiotics. Probiotics are bacteria helpful to digestion that speed up recovery from diarrhea. Useful bacteria can be lost during the violent expulsions of diarrhea. It then takes time for the population to build back up again and digestion to reach full efficiency. A supplement of probiotics boosts the bacterial population. Generally, probiotics are mixed into the dog's food once a day, for 5 days.

The natural bacteria in a dog's bowel differ from those in human's. Don't give human probiotics to dogs.

A variety of canine probiotics are available without prescription from your veterinarian, pharmacist, or major pet stores.

Do not give your dog medications for human diarrhea. Mild diarrhea should respond to the above steps. Giving your dog a drug that reduces bowel movement may hide a serious problem until it is too late. If the original symptoms do not settle after 2 -3 days with the methods mentioned above, chances are your dog has a problem which needs veterinary attention.[3]XResearch source<i>Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine. Ettinger. Publisher: Saunders</i>

Take his temperature. Simple diarrhea is rarely accompanied by a fever. If your dog's running a fever, he's probably suffering from an infection of some sort. To take your dog's temperature, have a friend restrain him by sliding an arm under his stomach and pulling the dog's hindquarters against his/her chest. The friend should place their other hand firmly under the dog's chin. Gently restrain the dog and speak in soothing tones if it begins to wriggle. Place a muzzle on the dog if you're worried he'll bite during the procedure.

Lubricate the thermometer, then, lifting the tail up, insert it gently into the dog's anus. On a female dog, make sure you're not inserting it into the vulva, which is found just below the anus.

Do not force the thermometer in, as you can injure your dog.

Wait for the thermometer to beep, letting you know it's finished taking its reading.

Take note if diarrhea is combined with vomiting.[5]XResearch source<i>Small Animal Internal Medicine. Nelson &amp; Couto. Publisher: Mosby</i> Vomiting and diarrhea is a dangerous combination because the dog is losing fluid at both ends. This puts him at risk of dehydration. This is especially worrying if the dog is unable to drink and hold fluids down. In such a case, seek urgent veterinary attention.

Check for dehydration.[6]XResearch source<i>Small Animal Internal Medicine. Nelson &amp; Couto. Publisher: Mosby</i> Diarrhea is basically feces that contain a large amount of fluid. If the dog passes a lot of diarrhea and doesn't replace that fluid, he will become dehydrated. Dehydration reduces the blood supply to organs such as the liver or kidneys, which can potentially cause damage.

To test for dehydration, lift the dog's scruff away from the shoulder blades and then let it go.

Fully hydrated skin pings right back into position.

The skin of a dehydrated dog is less elastic, and may take a couple of seconds or longer to fall back into place.

Inspect the diarrhea for blood.[7]XResearch source<i>Small Animal Internal Medicine. Nelson &amp; Couto. Publisher: Mosby</i> If you find blood in the diarrhea, it may be because of inflammation or hemorrhage. While inflammation is uncomfortable, hemorrhage is potentially life-threatening. You won't be able to tell the difference at home so don't take any risks. Seek veterinary attention as soon as you see blood in your dog's stool.

Monitor your dog for weakness, lethargy, or collapse.[8]XResearch source<i>Small Animal Internal Medicine. Nelson &amp; Couto. Publisher: Mosby</i> A dog with mild diarrhea is always bright and alert. If your dog is bright eyed and bouncy, but has diarrhea, monitor him carefully for the development of the signs above. Its okay to try controlling the problem yourself.

However, if your dog lacks energy, is listless and unable to settle, or worse - collapses, then seek professional help.

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Community Q&A

Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

Some dogs respond well to a little extra fiber, such as pumpkin, being added to the diet. Others need a bland, highly digestible food, such as chicken breast and rice. The rule of thumb is to feed white meats, such as chicken, turkey, rabbit, and cod, as well as white carbohydrates, such as rice, pasta, or boiled potatoes (with NO added diary products.) If the diarrhea persists longer than a few days or you see blood, see a vet.

Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

Unfortunately, pea green poop is not a sign of improvement. Whatever reason the diarrhea started, it sounds like your little guy needs to a vet to settle it down. It might be that the pup has an underlying infection or parasite problem, or that he's had diarrhea for so long that he has a bacterial imbalance in his gut. Either way, its time to get some help.

Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

Antibiotics kill bacteria, and sometimes they kill the helpful bacteria in the gut as well as any infection. Your dog therefore might get diarrhea because antibiotics cause an imbalance in the bowel. If the dog isn't absorbing the goodness from the food because of diarrhea, this will lead to weight loss. However, if the dog was already unwell enough to be on antibiotics, your vet will want to know about the tummy upset. A course of probiotics may be necessary in order to get things back in balance.

Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

For a straightforward case of garbage gut, make she has plenty of water to drink. Starve her for 24 hours. When she starts eating again, give her bland foods until she's passed formed poop for a couple of days. Try giving white meat (chicken, rabbit, cod, coley fish) and boiled white rice or boiled potato. Alternatively, offer a prescription diet from your vet that is designed to settle upset stomachs.

Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

This depends entirely on the medication. With some medications, such as non-steroidal painkillers, it's essential to stop them if the dog has an upset stomach, while, with others, such as heart meds, the dog must take them. Give the vet who prescribed the medication a call and take their advice.

Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

If she is drinking plenty and seems otherwise strong, then let the puppies carry on feeding. If she is feverish, weak, vomiting, or passing blood, then she must see a vet. Try a bland diet for a day or so, and if she isn't improving, get her checked out.

Bring four cups of water to a boil. Once water begins to boil, add in two cups of plain white rice and cover. Bring flame down to low and simmer for twenty minutes, or until all the water has been absorbed.

My puppy is losing weight and has diarrhea. She's seven weeks old. I've been given her canned food. What should I do?

Community Answer

If your puppy is losing weight and having diarrhea, she needs to see vet right away. It could be parvo, and severe dehydration can occur very quickly. She could die, so you need to get her to a vet right away.

About This Article

This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

To treat dog diarrhea, don't feed your dog for 12-24 hours so its digestive system has time to calm down. However, make sure your dog has access to plenty of water during this period so it doesn't get dehydrated. After your dog's fast, ease it back onto its regular food by giving it plain foods like skinless chicken, boiled white rice, pasta, or mashed potatoes. Also, break your dog's meals up into smaller meals and spread them out over the course of the day. After 2 days of bland food, start gradually mixing your dog's regular food back into its diet. To learn how to tell if you should bring your dog to the vet because of diarrhea, scroll down!

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 3,361,868 times.

Reader Success Stories

JW

Judy Whittier

Jun 6, 2016

"I really liked how simple you made the instructions. Everything was easy to understand and follow and all the information was very helpful. I appreciated the answer about brown rice as opposed to white rice (too much fiber with brown rice). Thanks!!"..." more

DG

David Gilliam

Jun 28, 2018

"Our dog has been suffering with diarrhea for the last few days. Although she appears to be alert and her normal self, we decided to ask for advice from our local vet. The advice given was almost the same as you gave in your article. Good advice. "..." more

BJ

Brenda Johnson

Feb 24, 2018

"Simple instructions on how to treat the problem of diarrhea for dogs. Very helpful with the different stages of the shape and color of the stools in picture form. Listing the dog food names to use is very helpful, too, to help with the healing."..." more

TL

Tracey Lewis

Sep 21, 2016

"The bit where you said a dog can have mashed pasta, because my dog had it at both ends. I gave him chicken, fish, and white boiled rice, and the next day my dog was back to his bouncy self, which I am glad about. I got a bit worried about him."..." more

CW

Christy Waters, M.D.

May 4, 2016

"Very clear! Told me exactly what I need to do at the start of the problem and gave step-by-step instructions for successful treatment. Warned about potential problems that require a trip to the vet. Bravo, thank you!"..." more

TM

Toni Morgan

Feb 18, 2019

"My 13-year-old boxer developed diarrhea. There was no change in diet . I tried giving her chicken and broth for 2 days, but no difference. The article gave me more food ideas to try. Hopefully this will do it."..." more

MM

Mary Morris

Aug 22, 2016

"Chicken and white rice or chicken and boiled potato, the bland diet, helps. So do the four small portions for two days and how to reintroduce their regular diet. Thank you so much for the information."..." more

JT

Joel Thomas

Feb 9, 2019

"Best help yet. My dogs and I seriously appreciate your knowledge and helpfulness. I tried everything until I read your response; white rice and chicken did the trick. We thank you for the help."..." more

A

Anonymous

Jan 16, 2017

"Thanks for these tips. My rat terrier has diarrhea so I did a search to find different foods to feed him during this time and read about boiled potatoes or pasta. Thanks, will try this!"..." more

PM

Patricia Madrau

Jun 6, 2016

"So easy to understand. Learned so much about differences between humans and dogs. We sometimes think if it works for us, it will work for them. Thanks for this valuable information."..." more

LM

Laura Metheny

Jul 27, 2016

"Told me that foods my dog ate are usually not the cause of his/her diarrhea, and that mucus in stool is serious. I did not know these things as pertaining to canines. Thank you!"..." more

LB

Lori Buzick

Sep 3, 2017

"I liked how straightforward it was. Basic and to the point. Most give a lot of useless information before they get to the answer. I would definitely recommend this site."..." more

GM

Griselda Miranda

Jun 17, 2016

"Thank you so much this article helped me a lot. I was really worried for my dog, and am going to start cooking some rice and chicken. Thank you so much."..." more

JJ

Jean Johnson

Mar 9, 2017

"This information was good. I did end up taking our pet to the vet and he got a shot, 2 different meds and special food. He is now on the mend."..." more

AW

April Warren

Sep 11, 2017

"It helped me by giving me other options to give my sick puppy before I take him to the vet, because it's so expensive to go to the vet."..." more

PE

Pamela Emmins

Jan 12, 2017

"My Daisy is 10 years old and I love her dearly. I will try whatever is suggested to help her, so thank you so much for your help."..." more

LB

Lynda Berry

Apr 11, 2017

"I was able to follow pictures. l have diminished eyesight and this was so helpful for me to follow, thank you."

EZ

Emm Zey

Jun 30, 2016

"This article was a point-by-point description in the treatment of my dog's diarrhea."

RH

Rose Hayden

Aug 24, 2017

"Good advice on how to treat your dog at home if they're suffering with diarrhea."

"I really liked how simple you made the instructions. Everything was easy to understand and follow and all the information was very helpful. I appreciated the answer about brown rice as opposed to white rice (too much fiber with brown rice). Thanks!!"..." more

DG

David Gilliam

Jun 28, 2018

"Our dog has been suffering with diarrhea for the last few days. Although she appears to be alert and her normal self, we decided to ask for advice from our local vet. The advice given was almost the same as you gave in your article. Good advice. "..." more

BJ

Brenda Johnson

Feb 24, 2018

"Simple instructions on how to treat the problem of diarrhea for dogs. Very helpful with the different stages of the shape and color of the stools in picture form. Listing the dog food names to use is very helpful, too, to help with the healing."..." more

TL

Tracey Lewis

Sep 21, 2016

"The bit where you said a dog can have mashed pasta, because my dog had it at both ends. I gave him chicken, fish, and white boiled rice, and the next day my dog was back to his bouncy self, which I am glad about. I got a bit worried about him."..." more

CW

Christy Waters, M.D.

May 4, 2016

"Very clear! Told me exactly what I need to do at the start of the problem and gave step-by-step instructions for successful treatment. Warned about potential problems that require a trip to the vet. Bravo, thank you!"..." more